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FA charge is slap in the face for troubled Rooney

By Matt Dickinson, Chief Football Correspondent and Neil Johnston

December 30 2004, 12:00am, The Times

SIR ALEX FERGUSON’S belief — some would say paranoia — that Manchester United are treated unfairly by the FA will have been exacerbated yesterday by the news that Wayne Rooney is facing a three-match suspension. The England striker was charged with violent conduct yesterday and it will be of no consolation to Ferguson that Tal Ben Haim, Rooney’s victim, was charged with improper conduct for feigning injury after their petty clash in United’s 2-0 win over Bolton Wanderers on Sunday.

Rooney has until 6pm today to respond to the charge. If he denies it, his case will be considered by a disciplinary commission tomorrow but, either way, the most likely outcome is the automatic three-match ban that follows violent conduct — unless the governing body was…